Archive for the 'Hyperfocus Favorite' Category

The Walking Dead

“When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.”
(Dawn of the Dead reference, in case you didn’t know…)

I’ve always thought that if the zombie apocalypse comes, I’ll probably freeze up and become a sitting duck—sort of like a paraplegic in a wheelchair at the bottom of a long flight of stairs (the stairs being the only method of escape). Honestly, I just don’t know if I have it in me to be bad-ass enough to hack my way through hordes of walking dead (with the machete I keep on hand just in case of this very situation) and find a secure location where I’ll hang with a group of fellow survivors high-fiving safely around a campfire.

But? Terrified as I may be at the very thought of such a disaster actually happening, that doesn’t mean I don’t like me a good zombie flick. George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead has always been my favorite but thanks to AMC, I have a new favorite that I can watch weekly: The Walking Dead, based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book series of the same name.

There’s something about seeing Rick Grimes, a suburban cop/father who wakes up from a coma in a hospital to find he’s been 28 Days Later-ed go through the transition of Hello, is anyone out there? Am I dreaming? WTF is going on here?, to a leader who will do whatever it takes to survive. I’m seeing a (very) slow decline in morals beginning to happen with Rick, (not-so-slow with some of the others), and it’s a cool thing to watch—but not as cool as special effects guru Greg Nicotero’s terrifying undead, some of the best zombies I’ve seen!

Here’s what I like most about The Walking Dead: strong acting, attention to detail, and great character development. It’s interesting to see the characters’ journey (as a group and also individually) from innocence in the face of the unthinkable, to a tough fight-to-survive (against zombies and the living) stance.

If you’re not already a huge fan like I am, be sure to check out The Walking Dead, Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on AMC. The pilot and entire first season are available for instant viewing on Netflix. I also recommend watching the award-winning webisodes (there are 6) if you haven’t already…

For the zombies, see creepy photo above and photos below:

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Down and Out in BK

I think most Brooklynites are already savvy but I wanted to give a quick mention to Brokelyn, just in case. Brokelyn is a web magazine “founded in celebration of a place we’re endlessly enthusiastic about, no matter how [synonym for crummy] the [synonym for economy] gets.”

I check, and check back often. And believe it or not, there’s a lot of cool stuff out there in the Borough of Kings that doesn’t cost much. Plus, aside from being a great resource, Brokelyn’s fabulous identity was designed by my former undergrad classmates at Tyler School of Art, The Heads of State.

Currently? I’m reading Best Cheap Beers for the Superbowl.

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Hyperfocus Favorite

I first discovered Unearthen here in NYC at New York Adorned and pretty much fell in love. My desire is to have more than one of these necklaces to represent different goals, in varying sizes. The way the rough crystals in bullet casing maintain delicacy without looking overly dainty is really what captured my heart. Not to mention, the packaging is stunning.

Here is what designer Gia Bahm has to say about her one-of-a-kind necklaces:

Unearthen intuitively selects crystals that help focus on the goals you struggle to achieve, center your thoughts on what you need, provide comfort in times of strain, or simply remind you of why you are here. The bullet casing balances and harmonizes to the crystal it holds, because destruction is a necessary phase in the cycle of creation. Each crystal carries its own distinct properties. A crystal’s energy engages its carrier to maintain consciousness of the stone’s specific properties. The stone with the right properties will inherently attract you, and your connection with the crystal is intrinsic. Please choose your Unearthen piece with care.

You can order from Gia at Unearthen online here, or through New York Adorned by contacting simone@nyajewelry.com.

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Love! Roundup

Finally, the Love! Roundup I’ve been talking about. These are some of my favorite things from the Love! folder that resides on my Mac’s desktop:

1. Serif Tote by Little Factory
For Typophiles and anyone who simply wants a classy, green shopper for transporting groceries and nearly anything else.

2. Crosley Keepsake USB Turntable
In addition to my affinity for skateboarding and street art, I have a deep love for records. This turntable has been on my Wish List for a while now.

3. Lever & Lumber Table by Robert Ogden
I have been searching for a simple reclaimed wood coffee table for almost two years now to replace my current hand-me-down coffee table, and this one immediately went right into my Love! folder the second I saw it.

4. Graph Paper Napkins by Colin O’Dowd
These napkins are an adorable and fun addition to any artist’s place setting.

5. Pebble Coasters by Little Factory
Simple, elegant, and an appealing way to keep surfaces dry when company comes calling and the wine starts flowing.

6. Ampersand Tee by House Industries
Another item for Typophiles and those, like myself, who just can’t get enough of ampersands. Cool? Definitely. Necessary? Maybe!

7. Magic: 1400′s – 1950′s from Taschen
Stunning visuals and fascinating information send this book right to the top of my Design Library Wish List.

8. Ninja Umbrella
Let’s be honest, who on Earth wouldn’t want a Ninja Umbrella? Just imagine how much fun it would be to unsheathe this when stepping out on a rainy day!

9. Polaroid Mirror by Colin O’Dowd
A cool twist on a basic household decor item that mixes modern with classic.

10. Etre Touchy Gloves
Perfectly useful (while still being attractive) for those of us who can’t keep our fingers off of our iPhones, even during the cold winter months.

11. SLR Camera Diagram Towel
If you are for one, a photographer and two, have a red-accented kitchen, these are absolutely the perfect towels for you.

And that wraps up this Love! Roundup. I empty my Love! folder monthly, so check back when I post next month’s roundup to see more fun, design-y items!

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The Perfect Disguise

I think I’ve mentioned before that I keep a “Love!” folder on my Mac’s desktop. This is where I drag photos and keep links to wonderful design-y things I find online and have fallen in love with. I periodically empty this folder in order to start fresh again and as I do, I will post a roundup of some of the things I’ve saved there.

Stay tuned for a new Love! Roundup tomorrow. But to tide you over, I’d like to share this favorite: BookBook by Twelve South—”a novel way to cover your MacBook.” So basically, you can disguise your MacBook as a real book. Not only do I like the hardback cover for added protection, the design is totally Love! worthy.

You can read more about BookBook and order online here.

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A Magical Sunday

The weather in NYC today is less than magical but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a magical day… The first app I purchased when I got my iPhone was Younicorn—because $.99 for a truly magical experience is peanuts when you break it down—and it’s still one of my favorites.

If seeing the outcome (above) of my own personal use of the Younicorn app to brighten my dreary Sunday has you simply unable to stand going one second longer without creating your own magic, you can download the app via the App Store on your iPhone or through iTunes right here.

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Hyperfocus Favorite

Today’s Favorite comes from a link I’ve had kicking around my Twitter Favorites tab for almost two weeks now, via Electric Literature (@electriclit).

BookInscriptions.com is a collection of found books with personal inscriptions. A favorite because of the sentimental value an inscribed book holds—or at least would hold for me—and I’ve found reading others’ sentiments to be charming. I, myself, have never been the recipient of an inscribed book but I imagine if I ever had, it would be something I would continue to cherish and would keep forever.

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